The rainbow flag will fly above Gonville & Caius for the first time on 29 February 2016 after the College Council agreed to the proposal from the JCR.

Students this week asked Council for permission to raise the flag in celebration of LGBT+ History Month – an annual festival in the UK intended to recognise the struggle of LGBT people to achieve equality and to promote diversity and tolerance.

The flag will be raised to mark the final day of a month of events nationwide, including in Cambridge.

By tradition, Caius flies only its own College flag from its flagpole atop the tower over the Great Gate. This will be one of very few occasions within living memory that Caius has flown any other emblem.

The Master of Caius, Professor Sir Alan Fersht, said: “Caius aims to give all students, whatever their national origins, sexuality, religion, marital status or disabilities, the best Cambridge experience by maintaining Cambridge traditions yet being liberal and progressive.

“Testimony to the Caius ethos is that Caius’ alumni are among the most loyal of the Cambridge colleges. Flying the rainbow flag, as a one-off departure from our normal conventions, shows our longstanding commitment to the LGBT community and to those from every background.”

Gonville & Caius Student Union LGBT+ representative Christopher Mergen and Women’s Officer Izzi Walford presented the case for the flag to Fellows at a Council meeting yesterday.

Christopher said: “We welcome this decision by the College Council as a positive step in highlighting Gonville & Caius College’s continuing work towards embracing people of all backgrounds.

“The response from the student body has been overwhelmingly positive and many members of the LGBT+ community within the College have expressed their delight to me that the flag will be shown.

“We greatly look forward to seeing the rainbow flag flying above the Great Gate on the 29^th as we mark the annual national celebration of LGBT+ history.”

Izzi added: “It was thrilling to hear the result of the Council vote and exciting to be part of such an important moment in Caius history.”